Kuwait has imposed a sweeping ban on the recruitment of domestic workers from Kenya and 26 other countries, following new labour regulations issued by the Ministry of Interior.
The decision affects a wide range of African nations, including Kenya, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Cabo Verde, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Mali, Burkina Faso, The Gambia, Cameroon, Equatorial Guinea, the Central African Republic, Republic of the Congo, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Angola, Madagascar, Uganda, Nigeria, Togo, Malawi, Chad, Djibouti and Niger.
The move is expected to significantly impact labour migration flows from Africa to the Gulf nation, where domestic work remains a major source of employment for foreign workers.
However, the new regulations also introduce a selective recruitment framework that allows domestic workers from a smaller group of countries to continue working in Kuwait under restrictions.
Countries approved for recruitment include South Africa, Benin, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Philippines, Sri Lanka, India, Vietnam, Nepal and Senegal. According to the regulations, recruitment from these countries will be limited to male domestic workers only.
The Ministry of Interior has not publicly detailed the specific reasons behind the sweeping restrictions, but such labour policy shifts in Gulf countries are often linked to regulatory tightening, diplomatic considerations, and concerns over recruitment practices and worker protection standards.
Kenya has historically been one of the countries supplying domestic workers to Gulf states, with many seeking employment opportunities in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and other Middle Eastern countries due to limited job opportunities at home.
The ban is likely to raise concerns among labour export agencies and workers who rely on overseas employment for income, particularly in regions where remittances form a key part of household economies.
The new policy is expected to reshape recruitment channels and could lead to increased scrutiny of bilateral labour agreements between Kuwait and affected countries.
Authorities in the affected countries are yet to issue formal responses regarding the decision.
